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Never in a million years did we think we would have a rear kitchen camper conversion, yet here we are. Similar to our bed set-up, we just didn’t have the space to really have the kitchen in the main part of our van build, so a rear kitchen camper it was.
With the egg shape of the van making the whole roof curved awkwardly, there just wasn’t a spot to put a stove where it could open and not hit the cabinet above it. Reluctantly, we went with the kitchen out the back, and while it’s perfect in the warmer temps — it’s not so great in the rain, wind, and freezing cold temperatures.
This post talks solely about the actual things we used to build out our kitchen.
Our Rear Kitchen Camper Conversion
Random Scrap Plywood (used for shelves)
Old Table Top (used for countertop)
2 x 2 x 8 Furring Strip Boards (30 boards in total van conversion)
Kreg Jig Screws (started kit and a bazillion more boxes)
Waterproof Stain (semi-transparent tint based with coffee color)
Small Propane Bottle (linked to Amazon, but way cheaper at local propane store)
Propane Adaptor/Extension Hose
Cutlery (one knife, spoon, and fork per person)
Sharp Knife (this one is really expensive, but we got ours at Ross.. and love it)
Enamel Bowls and Plates (one set for each person)
Cast Iron Skillet (10 inch skillet)
A Closer Look At Our Rear Kitchen Camper Conversion
Random Scrap Plywood (used for shelves)
When building out our campervan kitchen, we used random sanded down plywood our sister gave us for each shelves. It was the perfect way to use old, small plywood scraps, keeping costs and build out wastes low. For the shelving it really doesn’t matter if the wood matches or not, as you can stain it, cover it with grippy shelf liner, paint it, or shoot just let it be as it’s covered anyways!
Old Table Top (used for countertop)
As you look through our van build, you’ll quickly learn that up-cycling material was the way we kept our costs and van build footprint small. For our countertops, we sanded down and re-stained an old table that was given to us. While the sanding took a really long time, it was well worth the effort in the end. After sanding down and staining the wood to match the ceiling, the countertops look great.
2 x 2 x 8 Furring Strip Boards (30 boards in total van conversion) | current prices here
The 2 x 2s used to frame out the entire van build were one of the only things we bought new and bought a lot of. While the cabinets themselves didn’t use thirty 2 x 2s, the entire van build did. When cutting the 2 x 2s, we really tried to map out each cut, again leaving the least amount of wasted wood at the end of each 8 foot piece.
Pairing the 2 x 2s for the entire frame of the van with the use of a Kreg Jig for each joint creates a really strong support! It’s held up well for life on the road and we know it will continue to do so!
Kreg Jig Screws (started kit and a bazillion more boxes) | grab yours here
A Kreg Jig is hands down one of the best tools in a van conversion. The screws that come with the Kreg Jig starter kit are strong, cut through metal easily, and make serious bonds when joining wood. We started with the Kreg Jig Starter Kit and then bought extra screws according to the exact size we needed for different parts of the van build.
Waterproof Stain (semi-transparent tint based with coffee color) | current price here
When dreaming of our van build, the vans we were eyeing all had dark stained wood for the ceiling and counter tops with white cabinets and walls. When we had leftover dark stain, it was a no brainer to use the leftover dark stain for our counter tops. You likely don’t need an entire can for staining van counter tops. We only used the little test stain jug, I think right around three dollars each bought at our local Home Depot.
The waterproof aspect of the stain gives us a peace of mind when cleaning the kitchen counters. It also does not have the typical stain smell, so that was super nice to not have to worry about when building out the van.
12V Fridge | check current prices here
This 12V fridge is absolutely massive. We went with a big fridge in our van build so that we could be out in nature and completely disconnected from towns and people for long periods of time. This fridge is perfect for a couple weeks between restocks! One thing we don’t like about this fridge is it seems a bit noisier than it should be. We haven’t had other 12V fridges to compare that to though, so who knows if that’s completely normal or not!
Propane Stove | check current prices here
Small and lightweight, with the ability to hold our cast iron is how we decided what stove we’d use for our campervan kitchen. This stove is a lot less bulky than other camp stoves we’ve seen.. but we hated the bright blue color ours came in. To fix that, we bought some heat-resistant black spray paint and painted the blue. This honestly ended up being a bad idea, as it has chipped and rubbed off after only six months in the van. Thankfully, now online you can get this stove in grey!
Small Propane Bottle (linked to Amazon, but way cheaper at local propane store) | check current prices here
Honestly, google, “propane stores” and go get a propane canister from them. It’s way, way cheaper than buying one on Amazon. With that said, the one we bought was in rough shape. Thankfully a nice white coat of Rustoleum made it look brand spanking new.. for like 1/5 of the cost of a new one!
While you really could get away with the small great canisters, a large propane tank with the attachment below will limit the amount of waste you produce, and will keep you away from the propane store longer! They’re cheaper to fill, and you can fill them at most gas stations.
Propane Adapter/Extension Hose | check current prices here
This little guy is basically just to extend the normal hose piping from a super short distance to one that can connect the propane tank better. It’s also the only way to connect the camping stove to a larger propane tank instead of using the small green canisters.
Lighter | check prices here
Every campervan kitchen needs a lighter. We have one regular lighter and a flexible lighter, like the orange one in the image. Having the flexible neck is super nice for reaching into the stove, around the countertop.
Magnet Strip | grab it here
With limited space in a campervan build, it’s so nice to use gadgets like this magnet strip to store cutlery and knives. We had a magnet strip in our first van build and loved how organized it kept us, and how easily accessible a spoon was when making tea. We knew we would put a magnet strip in our second build, and probably every build from here on out.
Top tip with the magnet strip.. have all your knives and cutlery facing one way, then if you use it and aren’t washing a ton of dishes, just stick it back on the magnet strip, upside down, then you’ll know what’s clean and dirty!
Cutlery (one knife, spoon, and fork per person) | check prices here
We used our normal kitchen set of flatware for our van, as it was, to our surprise, magnetic. You could always grab a set from a second hand store to keep costs down and limit waste. However, when I was looking online, this magnetic flatware set popped up, and it’s so cool… I had to include it! Such a great idea for both vanlife and just everyday life too.
Sharp Knife | grab one here
We have a kitchen set of knives in our home from our wedding, and we didn’t want to break it apart, so we went to Ross and found a knife that we now absolutely love.. maybe even more than the ones that come with our kitchen set.
This knife is really expensive, but finding it at Ross kept the cost down low! The trick here is to find a single knife you absolutely love, and use that for everything. The only extra knife you’ll want to consider in a van is a tomato knife.. .they’re fantastic!
Enamel Bowls and Plates (one set for each person) | check prices here
These enamel plates are great for camping… aka, great for the van too. We love the lip on the plates, keeping everything in the plate. The bowls are great too! They’re lightweight and durable!
Alex Apland Mugs (one each) | check out her art here
There’s nothing better than drinking coffee out of a Alex Apland mug. They’re a work of art, and just make the coffee taste better!
Gooseneck Kettle | check prices here
When making coffee pour over style, to make the best coffee you can, you need to use a Gooseneck kettle, one like this. They take up a bit more space than a normal kettle, but using it will change the way your coffee tastes!
Pour Over Coffee Maker | check prices here
Hands down, the best way to have a coffee is the pour over method! While it’s normally in a large glass contraption, this single serving plastic pour over is perfect for the van. We use these paper filters with this pour over.
Cast Iron Skillet (10 inch skillet) | grab one here
If you’re not cooking on a cast iron skillet, you’re doing way too much work. Cast iron is not only a healthier way to cook, it acts as a warmer after you finish cooking a meal, and you don’t ever wash it with soap. It’s literally perfect for vanlife! We have the 10 inch skillet, and it fits perfectly in our stove. We also have the cast iron lid, which helps tremendously with reheating food!
Since you’re not supposed to use soap on a cast iron, we use a brush similar to this for cleaning our cast iron, and have a nifty little scraper like this to scrape off food before brush cleaning the skillet.
Pot (one) | find one here
This is not the exact pot that we have. We bought our when in South America, and it’s a bit smaller and more compact. But this pot gives you the idea of what we have in our van. Originally we were going to use our cast iron pot in the van, but we just don’t use it that much, so it wasn’t worth carrying around that extra weight.
Grab a pot the size that fits the amount of people in your van, and the cooking you do… but truly, only choose one.. no need to carry more.
Metal Spatula | check prices here
Another perk of using a cast iron is the ability to use a metal spatula when cooking. They’re easy to use and clean. They also get under eggs really well, making it easier to flip them.
Bottle Opener (wine and beer) | check prices here
No van kitchen would be complete without a bottle opener. Perfectly compact and able to pop open a bottle of wine or a beer. A bottle opener is a must in and van conversion kitchen.
Dr. Bronner’s Soap | check prices here
Biodegradable, with uses in and out of the kitchen, this is our go to soap in the van. It’s super concentrated, meaning you don’t need much to get your dishes done, and it’s not bad for the environment, making it perfect to use out in nature. We use the smallest drop of this soap to wash all our dishes after a meal. It seriously lasts forever.
Sponge | check prices here
We keep one sponge in our van to wash all our dishes except for the cast iron. By scraping off the food waste before washing with a sponge, it keeps the sponge clean for a longer time.
If your dishes are super dirty, you can use grass to scrub off food before using a sponge to was the dishes.
Hot Pads | check prices here
These are the perfect hot pads for everything in the van. They are made from cork and are super cute, it doesn’t really matter if they get dirty. We grabbed some from IKEA mainly to use with our glass pour over, but have a couple in the van. They fit perfectly under the 10 inch cast iron, and are great for under the one pot we have in the van as well.
Our Rear Kitchen Camper in Photos
More Details on Our Van Life Kitchen
How to Choose the Right Campervan Stove for You + Where to Install It
Things to Consider Before Buying Your Vanlife Fridge
How to Install Your Campervan Fan | yes, you need one for your vanlife kitchen
More Details on Van Builds
Best Vanlife Apps | finding water + parking spots + dump stations + more
How to do Laundry When Living on the Road
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